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Review leopardstown 18th Apr

< Puncher Clynch just got the better of the two Ballydoyle runners in a thrilling renewal of the PW McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown.

Jim Bolger's charge (12-1), winner of a Dundalk handicap earlier this month, hit the front two furlongs out under Kevin Manning and then withstood a renewed challenge from long-time leader At First Sight to score by a short head.

The latter's stablemate Mikhail Glinka was sent off a hot favourite but took time to get going and finished a further neck away after flying down the outside in the closing stages.

Dermot Weld's high-class performer Famous Name drifted to odds-against for the Heritage Stakes but had no trouble disposing of his rivals in the Listed contest.

Settled in second as stablemate Broad Meaning set the pace, the 11-10 favourite was sent on early in the straight by Pat Smullen and readily held Recharge to come home with two and a half lengths to spare.

Weld was completing a double after the smooth success of Brushed Aside (4-1 joint-favourite), who went on approaching the furlong marker under Smullen to take the Stepaside Handicap by a length.

Aidan O'Brien's juvenile Zoffany was sent off the 4-7 favourite for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden and won in impressive style.

The son of Dansili was caught in a pocket coming down the straight, but once he got in the clear he soon mowed down the opposition and Johnny Murtagh eased him a length and a half clear.

O'Brien went on to a double when debutant Snow Blizzard (16-1) led all the way in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden for three-year-olds under Colm O'Donoghue, holding Maverick Man by half a length.

Bolger was another to land a double as Book Of Numbers (10-1) stepped up from last of 14 in a Dundalk maiden last month to win the Glenbeigh Group Handicap under Manning, while Fran Berry swooped fast and late to take the Oakfield Handicap on Pat Martin's Sugar Baby Love (10-1).

Berry wrapped up his own double when John Oxx's Haralan (7-4 favourite) romped away with the Pinewood Handicap.